Client story
Father, sons and a business built to hand on: the WAH Greenland story
Walter Greenland · WAH Greenland
Walter Greenland is a builder by trade. He started out in business in 2015, when his boys were younger, with a simple goal: to help his son learn a trade. Alongside that, he also wanted the freedom to watch his boys grow up and attend camps, sports days, and school assemblies. Something that parents working 9-5 jobs often struggle with and it’s time they don’t get back.
Today both of Walter's sons work alongside him. Bailey, 22, is about three years into his building apprenticeship, and his younger brother Teohonga, 19, is coming up to the end of his first year. An additional builder nearing the end of his apprenticeship makes up the four-strong team.
Together they work on Signature Homes and Ruske Developments projects and other developer projects across the Waikato.
What is working with family every day like? It’s a question Walter hears often.
“I do get asked that quite a lot,” he laughs. “It's good. When it's your own family, you can get a bit angry with them without it being awkward. It's just another grumpy day with Dad. Really, we're lucky we get along and just get the job done.”
When Walter first went into business, he had a good accountant. But when that accountant retired and passed his clients on to another firm, the relationship changed. Contact became vague and largely came down to a once-a-year conversation, leaving Walter to handle most of the day-to-day financial management himself.
When Walter got talking with Steve Misa from Oyonnx, the timing was right. He was looking for someone new to help with the books, and he wanted more than a set of annual accounts. He wanted to understand his numbers.
Walter joined Oyonnx less than a year ago. Since then, the team has supported him with tax and IRD, pricing, budgeting, forecasting, and setting up and managing Xero.
“I've learnt so much more with them. I really enjoy working with them.”
For Walter, the biggest change has been in understanding, not just paperwork.
“There have been so many lightbulb moments with them, seeing why others do what they do.”
One of those came when Oyonnx advised him to move the business to a limited company, a step that puts WAH Greenland on a stronger footing as it grows.
Walter describes the relationship with Oyonnx as a partnership, one that reaches well beyond the numbers.
“The best thing about the team at Oyonnx is how awesome the networking with other businesses through Steve is. The potential to help each other grow is huge.”
The WAH Greenland team on site in the Waikato
Walter's plans for the future are clear, and they centre on his boys.
“I'm happy to grow the team and eventually have the boys do their thing. I'd like a company that just rolls along.”
One day he plans to hand the business over to Bailey and Teohonga, while staying involved in some way.
What started as a father teaching his son a trade is now a family business with a future. With Oyonnx providing the financial structure and understanding behind it, Walter is building something worth passing on.